Eric Schneiderman

  • Morning Docket: 01.30.19
    Morning Docket

    Morning Docket: 01.30.19

    * What do Trump “fixer” Michael Cohen, Fyre Festival founder Billy McFarland, and Jersey Shore star Mike Sorrentino all have in common? They may soon be inmates together at FCI Otisville, one of America’s “cushiest” prisons. Oooh, looks like we’ve got a situation! [INSIDER]

    * “New York State’s campaign finance system is generally a scandal, and this is another example of it.” Disgraced former New York AG Eric Schneiderman used campaign funds to pay the law firm that represented him during an investigation into allegations of his physical abusiveness, and people are pissed. [Associated Press]

    * Remember that meeting Ginni Thomas had with President Trump where she expressed her displeasure with transgender military service? Rest assured that Justice Clarence Thomas likely won’t be recusing over it anytime soon. [Bloomberg Law]

    * A meaningful mouthful: The ABA passed a resolution asking that legal employers stop requiring mandatory arbitration for discrimination, harassment, or retaliation complaints “based upon race, sex, religion, national origin, ethnicity, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, genetic information, or status as a victim of domestic or sexual violence.” [ABA Journal]

    * Confused about your legal bills? You’re not the only one. That’s why the Standards Advancement for the Legal Industry Alliance is trying to introduce its “matter category standard” billing codes to simplify things for everyone. [American Lawyer]

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  • Morning Docket: 04.19.18
    Morning Docket

    Morning Docket: 04.19.18

    * The proposed cap on federal student loans for graduate students will make life a lot rougher for law students who will have to resort to the more expensive private market for tuition bucks. On the other hand, it could devastate the bottom-tier schools who rely on the government gravy train to bilk students into buying a degree they can’t use. So it’s not all bad news. [Law.com]

    * When it comes to appointing a Special Master, the government and Michael Cohen have wildly different preferences. The government would like a retired Magistrate, someone well-versed in making tough calls in discovery disputes. Cohen’s camp would prefer a former prosecutor, which you should read as “someone who currently represents criminals and has a vested interest in defining privilege broadly.” Trump’s lawyers haven’t submitted a list of preferred candidates but we can go ahead and pencil in Jeanine Pirro, Andrew Napolitano, and Judge Judy. [New York Law Journal]

    * While we’re talking about Cohen, he just dropped his libel suits against Buzzfeed and Fusion GPS over the Steele dossier. So there’s definitely a pee tape. [Politico]

    * Oh, and documents suggest he owes $110K in taxes. [Law360]

    * Meanwhile, New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has asked state lawmakers to eliminate a state law that prevents state prosecutions of individuals who have already reached the plea or a jury is sworn in a federal case. Or, more to the point, when someone in that situation is pardoned. [NY Times]

    * There are hints that the jury may acquit Tex McIver of the most serious charges related to his wife’s shooting death. As a reminder, McIver shot her in the back while she rode in the front seat of their car when his gun, which he says he had loaded and ready because he was worried about Black Lives Matter, went off when the car hit a speedbump. [Daily Report Online]

    * If you notice some new changes to your Facebook privacy protections, you might think that’s a response to Zuck’s recent congressional testimony. But actually, it’s just Facebook playing shell company roulette to make sure you’re not covered by GDPR. [Reuters]

    * The organizer of the Charlottesville “Very Fine People On Both Sides” rally popped into the UVA Law library yesterday. Vigilant students kept an eye on him. [Cavalier Daily]

    * We’d also be remiss if we didn’t express our sadness over the loss of Judge Harry T. Stone. Harry Anderson’s portrayal of the free-wheeling but fair judge contributed to making Night Court one of the greatest, and most honest, courtroom television shows of all time. [CNN]

  • Morning Docket: 02.12.18
    Morning Docket

    Morning Docket: 02.12.18

    * “The chief justice, in particular, doesn’t like the court to be a disruptive force,” but that might change this spring as the Supreme Court considers reversing at least three of its longstanding precedents. Trashing precedents could potentially become much easier now that Justice Gorsuch is here. [USA Today]

    * Berwin Leighton Paisner and Bryan Cave partners are voting on their proposed transatlantic merger, and the results are expected by the end of the month. If the tie-up is approved, BCLP — the combined firm’s new name — will be a billion-dollar firm with 1,500 lawyers and 32 offices in 12 countries. [Law.com]

    * Charles Harder, the lawyer who brought down Gawker and now represents Donald Trump and members of his family, is experiencing some growing pains at his firm thanks to his presidential representation. Name partner Douglas Mirell just quit because of his “pledge to protect the First Amendment.” [The Recorder]

    * New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has filed a civil rights suit against the Weinstein Company and its founders, alleging that they “repeatedly and persistently treated female employees less well than male-employees through gender-based hostile workplace harassment, quid pro quo harassment, and discrimination.” [Variety]

    * In an effort to increase diversity, LSAC will be awarding a total of $1.5 million to five law schools so they can hold Prelaw Undergraduate Scholars programs on their campuses. Akron, Alabama, Duke, Houston, and St. John’s will each receive these grants to convince college students to enroll. [Black Enterprise]

    * Congratulations to Charleston Law’s National Tax Moot Court team, which just clinched its seventh championship title in a row. It’s nice to know that students were able to rise above the school’s designation as one of the “least selective law schools in the country” to create a tax law dynasty. [Post and Courier]

    * Remember the former Ulta employee who accused the beauty retailer of reselling used products as new? Now a concerned customer has filed a proposed class-action lawsuit over the store’s “widespread and surreptitious practice” of allegedly repackaging and selling returned products. [Chicago Tribune]

  • Non-Sequiturs: 09.29.17
    Non-Sequiturs

    Non-Sequiturs: 09.29.17

    * The ACLU is ready to fight a Louisiana school district after they told student athletes they must stand for the national anthem or they’ll get kicked off the team. [Huffington Post]

    * New York landlords that harass rent stabilized tenants beware — AG Eric Schneiderman has his eye on you. [Cityland]

    * The Supreme Court’s role in building Hugh Hefner’s naked empire. [Law and More]

    * Starting a new Biglaw job? Tips to keep your finances in order. [Corporette]

    * Will lowering California’s bar cut score do more harm than good? [Lawyerist]

    * The party behind Brexit has a new logo that looks a little like they cribbed it from a law school. [LegalCheek]